Acme Time Travel Incorporated - Volume 1

The morning sunshine shines down on the Sunny Vale Care Home.

On the door to room number 3, John Cullen’s room, is a hand-drawn note. It is an A4 sheet, blue-tacked onto the door.

The note said

Happy Birthday John

100 years old on the 8th July

The door to number 3 was slightly ajar, and John sat on his comfortable padded chair. The chair was in the bay window of his room, with the sun shining through the light cream lace curtains.

He smiled gently to himself. “The local paper is sending somebody round to talk to me this afternoon, Vicky.”

“What do you think you will talk about, John?” Vicky asked, somewhat pensively.

John chuckled. “Well, I was one-hundred years old last Saturday, Vicky, so I suppose I have seen a few things in my time. What do you think I should talk about?”

Vicky wasn’t sure what to respond. She felt reasonably sure that John knew exactly what he was going to say.

“Vicky, could we have a bit of music please ... maybe some Schubert?”

Although the room was apparently devoid of a sound-system of any kind, the room began to resonate to the deep and textured orchestral tones.

John began gently waving his arms, as if conducting the music.

“Ah yes, the Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, for piano, violin and violoncello.”

John stood up, still waving his arms.

“Do you know Vicky, that this was one of the Schubert’s last compositions? It was completed just before his death in 1827.”

John smiled to himself, whilst he continued to conduct the music.

“Lovely tonal quality there ... truly marvellous.”

The piece concluded, and John sat down again in his chair by the window. He closed his eyes. The trace of a smile could still be seen flickering across his face.

“Thank you, Vicky,” John murmured.